The role of waste-to-energy in achieving the UAE’s target of diverting 75% of waste from landfills 

Waste-to-energy is a cornerstone of the UAE’s strategy to meet its landfill diversion targets. It offers a sustainable solution for the portion of waste that cannot be reused or recycled by converting it into electricity and heat through advanced, low-emission technologies. This not only reduces the volume of waste sent to landfill but also generates clean energy that supports national sustainability targets. 

The UAE’s ambition to divert 75% of waste from landfills relies on an integrated approach that combines strong recycling systems, advanced material recovery, and energy recovery from non-recyclables. Waste-to-energy bridges the gap between what we can recycle today and what can be recovered tomorrow, ensuring that no waste is left without purpose. 

For Tadweer Group, this means advancing the full waste management value chain - from collection and recycling and recovery - to create a truly circular infrastructure.  

How does the UAE/ Middle East balance between recycling, WtE and circularity as part of its integrated waste management strategy? 

The UAE has adopted a comprehensive and integrated approach to waste management that reflects the principles of the circular economy. Rather than viewing waste as a challenge, the country is shifting its behaviour to view waste as a valuable resource that can be reused, recycled, or recovered to create new economic and environmental opportunities. 

At Tadweer Group, we apply this same philosophy by assessing the entire waste value chain - from collection and sorting to processing, reuse, and recycling - to identify the most sustainable and economically efficient solutions for every material type. Recycling and material recovery remain our priority, ensuring that valuable resources are returned to productive use wherever possible. 

Waste-to-energy provides a sustainable solution for non-recyclable waste by converting it into clean energy, thereby supporting decarbonisation efforts and helping tackle global energy security challenges. This is how the UAE continues to advance toward its landfill diversion targets and its broader Net Zero 2050 goals. 

Updates on the progress of key projects Tadweer Group is currently leading 

We are in the process of designing, developing and implementing major infrastructure projects across the whole waste resource value chain in Abu Dhabi with an aim to achieve our targets of 80% diversion from landfill by 2030. These projects are all at different stages of development in order to meet the target, such as our new waste to energy plant which is currently 50% complete.  

Policy and regulatory frameworks supporting the development and operation of such facilities.

We are aligned with our main governmental stakeholders such as Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Abu Dhabi Executive Office (ADEO), and the Department of Economic Development (DED) to support the development of the new regulatory frameworks for the roll out of the projects and to aid the improvement of the control and the management of all waste streams. 

Strong collaboration between public and private stakeholders has been essential to the success of the UAE’s waste transformation journey. This is to ensure that our projects are fully aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks and national sustainability objectives. 

This alignment between regulation, technology, and investment ensures that every step we take contributes meaningfully to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions and to establishing Abu Dhabi as a global benchmark for sustainable waste management.  

How does the UAE attract investment and expertise for large-scale WtE projects, considering the high capital costs involved? 

Developing waste-to-energy facilities requires significant investment and specialised expertise. The UAE has created an attractive environment for such projects through its strong commitment to sustainability -focused targets, announcements and events. 

At Tadweer Group, we recognise that innovation, sustainability and investment must go hand in hand. Our collaborations with leading international partners bring world-class expertise to the UAE, while our recently launched Green Finance Framework provides a platform for mobilising sustainable investment. This framework aligns our projects with global environmental standards and supports our goal of accelerating the transition toward a greener economy. 

The future outlook for WtE as a solution in the region 

The future of waste-to-energy in the Middle East is one of expansion and integration. As recycling systems grow stronger and circular practices are evolving, waste-to-energy will continue to serve as a critical enabler of zero-waste ambitions, ensuring that even non-recyclable materials can be harnessed. 

In the UAE, we are already seeing momentum build. Flagship projects are progressing on schedule, and there is increasing interest from both government and private sectors in replicating these models across the region. Over time, we expect to see more systems where waste collection, recycling, material recovery, and energy generation all work seamlessly together. 

At Tadweer Group, we see waste-to-energy not as the end of the process, but as part of a continuous cycle of innovation. It represents a clean, efficient, and forward-looking solution that supports our national sustainability goals and reinforces the UAE’s position as a global leader in circular economy and green infrastructure.